Archive for the '2013: Memorable Moments' Category

There are at least two favorite memories I have of the wonderful time of Obama, c. 2013, which I wouldn’t mind trying to put into words … were I not clowning around with my rambunctious nearly-three-year-old great grandson during his holiday visit!

I thought, in the interim, I might just point to one story, already fully “covered” by The Obama Diary (see here) on Feb. 19 (coincidentally, my son’s birthday, another banner event in my year!) …

“There is an endless supply of paint.”

Remember it?

I must admit I’ve been reminded and have needed the reminder many times since February, whenever the unjust in our world criticize or verbalize that they don’t appreciate our fine President and First Family … or just plain show their bigotry and hatred, in other ways. Many times!

This story was a lesson in perseverance. A lesson in the Hopi admonition, which the President has taken on ~ as our reminder from him of what’s always ahead:

“We are the ones we’ve been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.”

Dudette brought the story to us via Chips, back in February … from a piece in The Houston Chronicle:

“Marcus Davis is resolute. As many times as vandals paint over a mural of President Barack Obama, he will repair the damage over and over again. ‘There is an endless supply of paint,’ said Davis, 41, who opened The Breakfast Klub in 2001. ‘This mural is symbolic of the presidency of Barack Obama. He wakes up every day to obstacles and challenges far greater than a doggone mural being defaced. If he has the level of courage and type of character that causes him to continue to go on, I’ll be damned if I stop.”

When I heard that story, Marcus Davis became my hero. I haven’t commissioned a mural for President Obama (except in my mind’s eye and heart), and I haven’t had to re-paint it, over and over, to show my continuing support for him … but, like all of us at TOD – like so many others around the globe – I have his back.

Ah, the most magical of days, made all the more lovely by spending it in TOD’s company. And the updates and photos from the TOD meet-up in DC made it even better ….. although I heard VC was left behind in the room behind the main one, talking to herself :roll:

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2 Gabby Giffords’ Statement at the Senate Hearing on Gun Violence

She’s just an inspirational woman, her courage is beyond description.

#TheTimeIsNow

Mark Kelly’s pride in his extraordinary wife:

President Obama greets former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband, former astronaut Mark Kelly, in the Oval Office after they testified at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on gun violence, Jan. 30, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)

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3 The President and First Lady visiting the Fast for Families immigration protestors on the Mall

As SmartyPants put it, “when has a White House shown this kind of support to activists? The answer: Never.”

An incredibly powerful moment, the President of the United States and the First Lady departing the White House to show solidarity with immigration activists on the Mall.

Of the people, for the people.

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4 Obamacare

The coalition of forces, $$ supported $$ by the MSM, that united against the Affordable Care Act, was a sight to behold, even so-called progressives – the privileged ones, need it be said? – like Ezra Klein did their level best to belittle and undermine the efforts to make health insurance affordable for all Americans.

Now?

They’re frothing at the mouth as those enrollment figures soar.

Obamacare is enriching people’s lives.

Thank you Barack Obama. What an amazing legacy.

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5 A President Abroad

As if Nelson Mandela’s Memorial Service wasn’t emotional enough, the outpouring of love from the South African people for the First Couple was a truly beautiful thing.

And needless to say, this image from June will live long in the memory:

Day after day we see efforts to diminish this President, to attach him to scandal, to demonize him, to smear him, lying shills like Jon Karl and Chuck Todd leading the MSM charge.

And I always smile when they gleefully report poor polling figures for the President.

Remember: Almost 46% of Americans voted for Sarah Palin (and John McCain) in 2008, and over 47% for Mitt Romney in 2012. No, seriously.

These people would have voted for Satan rather than a black man. But that’s never an ‘issue’ the MSM will address.

So, the President’s ‘ceiling’ is around 50% – his opponents are lost in a wilderness of hate, even though they benefit from his work.

The latest GOP/Rasmussen figure? 48% approval.

There you have it: the people who put their faith in him still believe in him – and respect him.

Like that man in the photo.

Because he knows Barack Obama is fighting for him.

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7 Genius

Choosing Billie Jean King and Caitlin Cahow as part of the delegation to represent the White House at the Sochi Olympics in 2014.

President Obama?

You brilliant rascal.

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8 The Fun

I have no clue how he does it, but he remains cheerful through all this madness – and I love him for it.

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9 The Blog Tyrants

On a personal bloggy note ….. the day UT agreed to run TOD with me was a bit fantabulous, at that stage I just couldn’t keep things going on my own, too much going on, and then this bundle of awesomeness teamed up and bloggy life has been a joy ever since.

Honestly, I can never ever thank UT enough, you have no idea how many ridicuously-short-notice messages I have sent her asking her to do, say, a R&S at two minutes notice, and not once has she said: “GO AWAY!”

So, I adore this brilliant woman, even if her taste in soccer teams is totally rubbish.

And I also too adore our regular blog tyrants, Liberal Librarian, Lovely Plains, Zizi and even Amk – you have all brought SO much to this place, thank you.

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10 You

Too many memorable 2013 moments to mention, but ‘you people’ are the very, very best, you make me smile and think every single day, thank you for your company on this lovely trip – wishing you and your loved ones a healthy, happy, joyful 2014.

The following is my humble offering to the lovely tradition you have launched to encourage TODers to reflect on key moments of the Presidency of Barack Obama’s second term:

“President Obama said he wouldn’t negotiate with Republicans over raising the debt limit and funding the government, and he never really needed to pick up the phone. The deal that passed both houses of Congress Wednesday achieves both goals, with minuscule concessions from the president’s side. In the crude analogy of two cars playing chicken, the president’s opponents pulled over. After 16 days of a government shutdown, the Republican Party has achieved its lowest approval ratings in recorded history, the president’s health care plan is unscathed, and the GOP’s civil war still roars. Proof was on the cable television split-screens. As Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was announcing the bipartisan deal that ended the standoff, Sen. Ted Cruz was holding his own press conference denouncing the Senate establishment that had caved.” (Slate)

Without any doubt, had Senator Reid and Congresswoman Pelosi not stood steadfastly with President Obama the Office of the President of the United States would have been severely damaged and a MINORITY of radicals would have set the precedent of being able to control the Executive Branch of our Government.

Meta, College Kay, amk, and SmartyPants have shared many of the 2013 heart-wrenching, powerful, and transformational acts of President Obama.

For me, the act that may well be among the most important of his two-terms, if not the most important historically, is that he courageously blocked a Minority Coup that would have undermined the Office of the President – 224 years into the great American experiment in Democracy.

So, I’ll limit my contribution to 1 instead of 10 memorable moments, for the reasons stated above and because our colleagues have already beautifully summarized many of President Obama’s actions throughout 2013 that I would have selected.

#TrustBarack

Yes We Can

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by Carol Duhart

President Obama’s second inauguration:

While the first inauguration was magical, the second was more than magic. The American people chose to re-elect him. Before 2012, even though Obama was doing a good job, there was always the saying by some that Obama was a fluke-a flirtation with diversity that would end as soon as an “adequate” candidate showed up. Or that he benefited by having McCain/Palin as opponents. But Obama has proven that diversity and change were not just flavors of the week by winning comfortably and later having a good and inspirational re-inauguration

The Obamacare website fizzle:

Really, after all of the fuss, that is what things have come down to? A website with glitches? I mean, no website runs perfectly on the first day ever. No matter how many tests, there are some things that you just don’t know are a problem until a real person actually uses it. And even then, all of the fuss didn’t stop millions from trying and retrying until they got enrolled. And it looks like it’s on its way to meet the numbers hoped for in enrollments

The Iran agreement:

For just about as long as I can remember, the shadow of a war that first engulfed the Middle East and brought in the rest of the world has hung over everything. To see Obama bring Russia and China into a peace-making agreement with Iran is huge. And do the same with Syria-all without firing a shot. Add the ending of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars mean that that Middle East war is further away than ever. Syria is terrible, but by itself won’t make it World War III or even a whole region conflagration.

In so many ways, Obama is the big cleanup of so many outmoded ideas. The end of the “war on terror” replaced by a nearly won war on al-Qaeda. The friendly rapprochement to Cuba and Iran. His support of alternative energy instead of pandering for votes by “drill, drill, drill” for cheaper gas. And so much more.

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by EveInGeorgia

Eve chose 10 of President Obama’s speeches from 2013

January 21: The second inauguration

February 12: State of the Union

March 21: Speech in Israel

April 18: Speech in Boston

May 23: Perpetual War speech

June 5: Appointments of Susan Rice and Samantha Power

July 19: Remarks on Trayon Martin

August 28: The 50th Anniversary of Dr King’s speech

It was one of the most spectacular days of my life, the day was indescribable! Because of my disability, I was allowed to sit in a great section. Hence, I was able to scoot around and take pictures of some great folk: Oprah, John Lewis, Elijah Cummings, Jaime Foxx, Al Sharpton, Bill Russell…..I couldn’t believe it, all these folk passed right near us, and they were gracious to a fault.

I thought all the presidents’ speeches were great, but President Obama’s was simply elegant.

President Obama was sworn in twice for the second time. Only one other president was sworn in four times, Franklin D. Roosevelt.

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The President can have a new career as a comedian. His time at the podium during the WHCD was great this year, as it has been in other years. How did you like his new entrance music?

Rush warned you, Second Term Baby! Republicans, if you want to reach out to minorities, reach out to me!

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We also enjoyed FLOTUS in BANGS – and Mom Dancing!

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Carole King is the First Woman to receive the Gershwin Award. This is the first musical presentation I watched. I never knew it was possible. I missed so much before I found TOD.

It’s one of our nation’s highest arts honors, given to recognize contribution to pop music and culture — and in 2013, the President awarded it to Carole King, legendary singer and songwriter responsible for hits like “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

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Two people received the Medal of Honor from our President this year. Poignant moments for all involved.

Former Army Staff Sgt. Clinton Romesha Receives the Medal of Honor

“With gunfire impacting all around him, Clint raced to one of the barracks and grabbed a machine gun. He took aim at one of the enemy machine teams and took it out. A rocket-propelled grenade exploded, sending shrapnel into his hip, his arm, and his neck. But he kept fighting, disregarding his own wounds, and tending to an injured comrade instead.” – President Obama, February 11, 2013

U.S. Army Captain William Swenson Receives the Medal of Honor

Swenson received the Medal of Honor for his courageous actions while serving as an Embedded Trainer and Mentor of the Afghan National Security Forces with Afghan Border Police Mentor Team, 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, during a lengthy battle with the Taliban in Kunar Province, Afghanistan on September 8, 2009.

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A New Dog at the White House

Sunny, a sweet and friendly 1-year-old girl pup, arrived at the White House to keep Bo and the Obama family company. We all know how special a new dog is.

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President Obama continues to be a great judge in character. Let’s not forget Ambassador Susan Rice is now his National Security Adviser and we have Ambassador Powell at the U.N.

Also Senators confirmed Vice Adm. Michelle Howard for the service’s No. 2 post on Dec. 20, making her the first female four-star admiral in the Navy’s 238-year history.

Her promotion to vice chief of naval operations, expected for early 2014, will also make her the first African-American woman to attain four-star rank in Pentagon history.

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We enjoyed celebrating President Obama’s 52nd Birthday with many photos of his life here on TOD and Twitter.

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During President Obama and the First Lady’s trip to Africa many commented on Michele being a descendent of slaves.

Thought you’d be interested in this story:

President Obama Ancestry

Obama Has Ties to Slavery Not by His Father but His Mother, Research Suggests

Mark Bunch, who directs his family’s online lineage project, said of President Obama, “I’m his fifth cousin twice removed.”

By SHERYL GAY STOLBERG

President Obama’s biography — son of a black father from Kenya and a white mother from Kansas — has long suggested that unlike most African-Americans, his roots did not include slavery.

One tool used by a team of genealogists over the course of two years was an online database maintained by the Bunch family.

Now a team of genealogists is upending that thinking, saying that Mr. Obama’s mother had, in addition to her European ancestors, at least one African forebear and that the president is most likely descended from one of the first documented African slaves in the United States.

To be honest, TODobots, reflecting on meaningful 2013 moments in the Age of Obama takes me right back to the 2009 Inauguration which I watched on TV. Personally, I go backwards first because for me almost all momentous 2013 happenings are irrevocably intertwined with the ones started back then.

Remember this part of Pres O’s 2009 address?

“To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West – know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy. To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history; but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.”

“we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.” ’09 PBO •►a man of his word! So what’s the problem? pic.twitter.com/2txz0AbmlV

In seeking a new way forward, President Obama had a 15 minute conversation with Iranian President Rouhani

September 27, 2013:

(2) ••►President Barack H. Obama = A Man of Vision and of Action

Most everyone here would agree that PBO’s choice of Joe Biden as a presidential partner was, and is, a smart one. VP Joe has worked closely with Pres. O from the beginning …..

“Now, as the 47th Vice President of the United States, Joe Biden has continued his leadership on important issues facing the nation. The Vice President was tasked with implementing the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, helping to rebuild our economy and lay the foundation for a sustainable economic future. …

In addition, Vice President Biden has supported the Administration’s effort to re-establish leadership in the Asia Pacific, traveling to China, Japan, and Mongolia in August 2011 and completing an exchange of visits with China’s then-Vice President in February 2012, that country’s current leader. He has represented our country in every region of the world……. ”

…and in 2013 a memorable event for me was VP Biden’s December 2013 6-day trip to Asia.

Only people with hearts full of hate and twisted souls could take something as important to every man, woman, and child in this great nation, The Patient PROTECTION and AFFORDABLE Care Act, and LIE about it to the point they compare it to SLAVERY.

Apparently, these people have never had the experience of going to an Emergency Room, or even for a regular check up with a normal Primary Care Physician. I guess there’s a lot more going on at home other than schooling with them.

I consider myself a rather healthy person, with a healthy lifestyle. I’ve never smoked or taken drugs (I’m very boring), I don’t drink much, I eat healthy, exercise, sleep, and stay as stress-free as possible. Yet I haven’t been able to avoid medical care to the extent the Republicans can.

My first experience in a hospital was birth. Then, like most toddlers at three, I fell and hit my forehead on the fireplace hearth and had my first stitches. I remember it clearly. At nine, since my teeth were too big for my tiny elf head I had my first oral surgery to get ready for braces, by removing four of them to make room in my mouth. At 18 I had my second when my wisdom teeth were removed. At 21, I had my first OBGYN visit, which went from a regular exam to a hurried ultrasound and abdominal surgery to remove an ovarian dermoid cyst the size of a grapefruit. (Apparently I ate my twin in the womb. Yes, I’m a Stephen King novel.) In ’94, while rehearsing Katherine in Taming of the Shrew, I tripped backstage and a bench came up and suddenly smashed me in the forehead. The entire cast saw my skull. I would have been a zipper-head had the ER I was taken to, not had a Plastic Surgeon on-call. The perks of being an Angelino!

I’ve had a lot of visits to various doctors since. Cheerleading and Dancing can lead to bone death if you land on your ass hard enough, not to mention falling off my horse. Only twice!!

But you don’t need to have the experience of seeking medical attention to understand you’re magically not going to catch some horrid virus simply because you have health insurance and the “illegals” don’t, all you have to do is watch Contagion, and understand basic math and biology, (or have lived through those coworkers who ALWAYS come to work sick and share their cooties with you.) I’m understanding that’s a tall ask for people who were home schooled instead of going to public school like I did.

As an actor in Los Angeles, the most over-populated talent pool on earth, most of my actor friends don’t have health insurance for any number of reasons. They don’t make enough money at their five jobs, none of which offer medical care; if they were lucky enough to get a gig this year, they don’t have enough hours to qualify for union coverage; or they have an old dance injury which up until now, has been a pre-existing condition that would get them an automatic denial of coverage.

Obamacare has been a godsend to these people and millions of others across the country. For the last three months, as a licensed insurance agent (day gig), certified by Covered California to sell plans on our Marketplace Exchange, I’ve been enrolling these people, most of whom have been jerked around so much they still feel as though the insurance companies are going to call them in the middle of the night and tell them they don’t qualify for whatever reason. I have to keep reassuring them that’s ILLEGAL now.

Not only do they qualify, they can afford it. Some, because their income + deductions + zip code = some amazing magical algorithm that lands them just above the Federal Poverty Line that would qualify them for Medi-Cal (Medicaid) coverage, they qualify for some of the super-secret Silver plans that not everyone can even see, plus their crazy monthly tax credit, they’re paying prices lower than their cell phone bills. (And California has an AWESOMESAUCE Governor who ACCEPTED the Medicaid expansion money to you know, HELP his constituents.)

It saddens me our press is so bought and paid for they’ll never run these stories. Whores. Too bad Obamacare doesn’t cover greed.

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So, without further delay, my favorite Presidential (and a few ACA) moments in this monumentous year when all my friends, and millions like them finally qualified to apply for and get, come January 1st, health insurance they can afford!